Friday, January 8, 2010

Neda's death was faked, says Iran state TV

THE young woman killed during the June election protests in Tehran was an agent for the United States and Britain who faked her own death, says a documentary made by Iran state television.

Neda Agha Soltan, 27, became a symbol of Iranian democratic resistance when her death was filmed on a mobile phone and then posted on YouTube, where it was watched by millions of people.

It was then broadcast around the world by news organisations.

Yet a documentary shown on Iranian state TV claims she wasn’t dying, but had simply poured blood on her face from a hidden bottle, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a group of journalists who cover 20 countries where a free press is banned or not established.

The documentary later claims the “deceived and deceitful” Neda was shot dead on the way to hospital and that she was the victim of a plot by foreigners and Opposition supporters, including the doctor, Arash Hejazi, who treated her in the street.

"While Neda is (pretending) she is injured and is lying on the back seat of the car on their lap, they bring out a handgun from their pockets," the documentary's narrator says.

"A handgun that they obtained from their Western and Iranian friends to water the tree of reforms and kill people and create divisions within society.

"Neda, for a moment, realises their wicked plan and struggles to escape, but they quickly shoot her from behind."

RFE/RL reports Iranian officials have repeatedly described her death as "suspicious" and a "premeditated scenario" to defame Iran.

Dr Hejazi has denied being in the car, and told RFE/RD: “A young innocent woman was shot dead while protesting. Since her killing, until today, the Iranian government has been doing all it can to distance itself from it and throw the responsibility on others, instead of acting responsibly and dealing with those who are guilty."

Dr Hejazi said Tehran kept changing its story about Neda's death.

"Their first reaction was that she was alive," he said.

"Then they said the footage was fake.

"One day they said a BBC reporter killed her. Then they said it was the CIA. Then they said the (Mujahedin) Khalq Organisation was behind it.

"The latest is this documentary."

In June, tens of thousands of Opposition supporters rallied in Tehran in defiance of an official ban on protests over Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidential election win.

At least 10 people were killed and more an 100 wounded when security forces cracked down on the protesters.